Buckle type folding machine



2 Sheets-Sheet- 1 Aug. 22, 1961 D. c. BECK BUCKLE TYPE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1958 INVENTOR.

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Aug. 22, 1961 D. c. BECK 2,997,295

BUCKLE TYPE FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

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2,997,295 BUCKLE TYPE FOLDING MACHINE David C. Beck, Sidney, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Liberty Folder Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 775,800 8 Claims. (Cl. 270-62) My present invention relates to paper folding machines of the well known buckle type design. More specifically my invention relates to a novel arrangement of parts especially adapted for folding file covers of a special type wherein an index tab extends from the folded edge of the cover.

For certain filing and indexing purposes not concerned with my present invention, it is required to provide file covers comprising essentially a folded sheet of suitable paper stock having an index tab extending from the folded edge of the paper, the outline of the tab being cut in the paper blank prior to the folding operation. This requires that the normal line of fold between the panels must be interrupted in that portion of the folded edge comprising the index tab, and as far as I am aware, such folding requirernents have not been provided for in prior folding machines. Because of the increased production inherent in buckle type folding devices, my invention is directed to machines of that class.

An object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of parts in combination with a buckle type folder whereby the line of fold normally imparted between a pair of panels will be interrupted by an unfolded portion which provides a tab or small panel extending with relation to the fold line.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement as above set forth which is relatively inexpensive to employ and is simple in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device which after initial installation in combination with a folding machine may readily be rendered operative or inoperative as required and whereby the machine may thereafter be readily employed for either the common folding operations normally imparted by the machine or for the special folding purposes of my invention.

With reference now to the drawings wherein an exemplary embodiment of my invention is shown, and also wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing my invention as adapted in combination with buckle type folding components.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing certain modifications of the conventional work rolls and the buckling pocket as removed from the assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of solenoid actuated deflecting fingers as removed from the assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line ;4 of FIGURE 1 and showing a work piece partially advanced into the folding pocket.

FIGURE 5 is a similar view but showing the work piece farther advanced into the folding pocket.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view illustrating a folded work piece as discharged from the exit rolls of the arrangement shown, the view also illustrating in dotted lines the fiat unfolded outline of the blank.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view illustrating an additional fold which may, if desired, be imparted to the tile cover.

FIGURE 8 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating an alternative arrangement of parts.

With reference first to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the draw ings, a typical file cover or folded product as effected by use of my improved arrangement is illustrated. As best shown in FIGURE 6 the file cover, which is of suitable paper stock, has a panel 10 folded to overlie a larger panel 11, the line of fold 12 between the panels being interrupted by a tongue or tab 13 which is integral with and extends from the panel 11.

It will be clear that to produce the file cover of FIGURE 6 the unfolded blank with the panel 10, extending as indicated by the dotted outline llla, was first cut along the lines 14, 15 and 16, thus leaving the tab 13 extending as shown after folding the panel 10 along the interrupted fold line 12. By means to be presently described in detail, folding of the panel 10 along the interrupted fold line 12 is rapidly and precisely accomplished in a buckle type folding machine, well known for rapid production of folded work pieces.

To those skilled in the art it will readily be clear that other folds may also be imparted to the file cover of FIGURE 6 without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Thus the panel 11 may, if desired, be folded as along the line 17 to form a panel 11a which may overlie (or underlie) the panel 11 to produce an envelope-like structure having the upstanding index tab 13 as depicted in FIGURE 7.

With reference to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a conventional folding pocket is generally indicated at 18 and has a lower plate 19 spaced in conventional manner from an upper plate 20 which has an upwardly curved front edge 20a extending the width of the plate. As shown, the front edge 20:: is modified with respect to conventional practice by reason of notches or cut-out portions 21, perhaps best seen in FIGURE 2, and later to be referred to. With the exception of modifications next to be described, conventional work rolls 22, 23 and 24 are arranged in the usual manner, the roll 22 being modified for purpose of my invention, by reason of the grooves or cut-away portions 25 also best seen in FIGURE 2 and later to be referred to.

The buckling pocket 18 includes a conventionally arranged stop bar 26 having fingers 27 which extend downwardly between the plates '20 and 19. As shown, however, the bar 26 mounts a bracket 28 held in position by means of a thumbscrew 29 and mounting a limit switch 30 having an actuating lever 31 which extends downwardly between the plates 20 and 1?, the lever 31 being engaged by work pieces as they are advanced into the pocket. A light spring 31a urges the lever 31 against the stop pin 31b.

It is to be understood that the buckling pocket 18 together with the work rolls 22, 23 and 24, are suitably mounted between frame members not shown herein and forming no part of my present invention. Likewise the work rolls are driven in conventional manner, reference being had to Patent No. 2,847,209 of August 12, 1958, for exemplary conventional arrangements thereof.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 3, my invention includes a plurality of interspaced fingers generally indicated at 32 which have downwardly curved tips 33 which serve as deflectors for the tabs of work pieces as will later be more clear. As shown, the fingers 32 are arranged for rocking movements upon a shaft 34 having pivoted bearings in elements 35 and 36 which depend from blocks 37 and 3-8 clamped by means of thumb screws 37a and 38a to a bar 39, which extends across the machine and is supported in any convenient manner between the side frames thereof. By means of a block 44} clamped by thumb screw 40a to the bar 39, a solenoid 41 having plunger 42 connected by a link 43 to a rod 4- 1 serves when energized to rock the fingers 32 about the shaft 34, the rod "44 being commonly affixed to the fingers 32 as shown. The arrangement is such that the tips 33 of the fingers 32 are normally positioned w1thin the grooves 35 of the roll 22 as perhaps most clearly shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the notches 21 of the buckling plate 20 providing for operative movement of the tips 33. An adjustable screw 45 limits clockwise rocking of the fingers about their pivoted mounting 34. A feed board or the like 46 guides incoming work pieces into the bite of rolls 22 and 23, any suitable means (not shown) being employed to advance the work pieces thereto.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the edge a comprising the panel 10 of the work pieces, is advanced 1nto the bite of the rolls 22 and 23, these rolls thereupon serving to drive the leading edge 10a into the buckling pocket 18. 'FIGURE 4 shows the blank partially advanced into the pocket, its leading edge 10a approaching the switch actuating lever 31. The arrangement of parts is such that as the leading edge 10a is farther advanced to the position of FIGURE 5, the switch actuating lever 31 closes contacts within the switch which by means of a circuit not shown causes the solenoid 41 to be energized. As this occurs the plunger 42 moves upwardly as seen in FIGURE 5 causing the deflecting fingers to be rocked clockwise, whereupon the tips 33 swing downwardly deflecting the tab 13 against the periphery of roll 23. With continued rotation of the parts the leading edge of the tab 13 becomes engaged between rolls 23 and 24, also the leading edge 10a of the blank engages the abutment or stop 27 causing the blank to buckle along the utlimate fold line 12, the rolls 23 and 24 then serving to crease the fold line, or rather the interrupted fold line 12 as the work piece is drawn between the rolls and ejected therefrom. If desired, the work piece may enter a succeeding buckling pocket (not shown), wherein the additional fold along line 17, as mentioned with reference to FIGURE 7, may be imparted.

It will be obvious that while the drawings depict a plurality of the deflecting fingers 32, the number of deflectors employed may vary in accordance with the dimensions of the tab 13. Thus for a narrow tab only a single deflector will be necessary.

It will be obvious also that by merely deenergizing the circuit comprising the solenoid 41, the device will be rendered inoperative and thus the machine may be readily employed for operation as a conventional folder; the fingers 32 resting in the inoperative position of FIGURE 4 by reason of gravity at all times during deenergization of the solenoid.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a somewhat obvious modification of my invention. As here shown conventional work rolls are indicated at 47, 48 and 49 with the upper plate 20 of the buckling pocket again being notched at 21 in its forward upturned edge 20a. For deflecting the tabs, however, a finger-like element 50 comprises the armature of a solenoid 51, a light spring 52 serving to urge the armature and finger to the retracted position shown. It will be clear that upon energization of the solenoid the finger will be advanced into the path of travel of a blank passing between the roll and the buckling pocket, and thus may be substituted to deflect the tab 13 in lieu of the arrangement of FIGURE 1.

Various other modifications of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the precise arrangement of parts as shown and described but by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a buckle type folding machine for paper sheets an initial pair of feed rolls comprising an upper roll and a lower roll coacting to advance blanks, a buckling pocket arranged to receive blanks advanced by said feed rolls a pivoted shaft extending across said machine and a finger-like member having a tip normally disposed above the path of travel of said sheets as they advance from said feed rolls to said buckling pocket carried by said shaft, said finger-like member comprising said tip being advanceable toward said lower feed roll and through said path of travel of said blanks, finger advancing means responsive upon activation to advance said finger-like member comprising said tip through said path of travel of said blanks, and means responsive upon predetermined advancement of said blanks into said buckling pocket to activate said finger advancing means.

2. In a buckle type folding machine for paper sheets, an initial pair of feed rolls comprising an upper roll and a lower roll coacting to advance blanks, a buckling pocket arranged to receive blanks advanced by said feed rolls a pivoted shaft extending across said machine and a finger member having a tip normally disposed above the path of movement of said sheets as they advance between said feed rolls and said buckling pocket carried by said shaft, said finger member comprising said tip being advanceable toward said lower feed roll and through said path of movement of said balnks, finger advancing means comprising the armature of a solenoid operatively engaging said finger members, and means comprising a limit switch actuable upon predetermined advancement of said blanks to complete an electrical circuit energizing said solenoid.

3. In a buckle type folding machine for paper sheets, initial feed rolls comprising an upper roll and a lower roll coacting to advance banks, a buckling pocket arranged to receive blanks advanced by said feed rolls, a finger member having a tip normally disposed above the path of movement of said blanks between said feed rolls and said buckling pocket, a solenoid having a normally retracted plunger comprising said finger, said plunger being advanceable upon energization of said solenoid, and means comprising a limit switch having an actuating lever engaged upon predetermined advancement of said blanks to complete an electrical circuit energizing said solenoid whereby said finger is advanced into the said path of movement of said blanks to deflect a tab of said blank from entry into said buckling pocket.

4. In a buckle type folding machine for paper sheets, initial feed rolls comprising an upper roll and a lower roll coacting to advance blanks, said upper roll comprising an annular groove, a buckling pocket arranged to receive blanks advanced by said feed rolls, a lever extending above said lower feed roll and through said annular groove and having a downwardly bent tip normally disposed above the path of blanks advancing between said feed rolls and said buckling pocket, said lever being mounted for rocking movements above an axis parallel to the axis of said feed rolls whereby said tip may be rocked into the said path of blanks to deflect a tab thereon from entry into said buckling pocket, and electro-magnetic means comprising an electrical circuit energized upon predetermined advancement of a said blank to rock said lever about its said axis.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said electromagnetic means comprises a solenoid having a plunger operatively engaging said lever.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said electrical circuit energized upon predetermined advancement of a said blank includes a switch having an actuating element actuable by a said blank advancing into said buckling pocket.

7. A buckle folding machine for paper sheets having tabs cut out on three sides and attached to the sheets at their ends along lines of fold, said buckle folding machine having three coacting rollers and a buckling pocket in the path of sheets fed by said coacting rollers, the upper one of said coacting rollers having grooves therein, a rocking shaft extending crosswise to the path of sheets, said shaft carrying fingers arranged for intermittent rocking movement into the grooves of the upper roller for pressing down the tabs of the sheets during the sheet advancing stage of operation, a stop bar adjacent the end of said buckling pocket in the path of movement of sheets moving in the buckling pocket, and means including a solenoid actuable as the sheets are advanced in the buckling pocket for inducing rocking movement of the fingers on said shaft.

8. A buckle folding machine for paper sheets having tabs cut out on three sides and attached to the sheets at their ends along lines of fold, said buckle folding machine having three coacting rollers and a buckling pocket in the path of sheets fed by said coacting rollers, the upper one of said coacting rollers having grooves therein, a rocking shaft extending crosswise to the path of sheets, said shaft carrying fingers arranged for intermittent rocking movement into the grooves of the upper roller for pressing down the tabs of the sheets during the sheet advancing stage of operation, a stop bar adjacent the end of said buckling pocket in the path of movement of sheets 6 moving in the buckling pocket, and means including a solenoid actuable as the sheets are advanced inthe buckling pocket for inducing rocking movement of the fingers on said shaft, said means including a pivoted lever and a limit switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

